Intucking mechanism



March 1932- l. w. LITCHFIELD INTUCKING MECHANI SM Filed April 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 29, 1932. 1 w, LlTCHFlELD 1,851,676

INTUCKING' MECHANISM Filed April 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 \l/ ISnventor I. W. LITCHFIELD INTUCKING MECHANISM March 29, 1932.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 9, 1930/ Snvcntor dttorucus March 29, 1932; w. LITCHFIELD INTUCKING MECHANISM Filed April 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 nventor attorneys Filed April 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m mvm Zmventor attorneys Patented Mar. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES P AT-ENT OFFICE ISAAC LITCHFIELD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO IBEMIS BRO. BAG (.70., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI INTUCKING MECHANISM Application filed April 9, 1930. Serial No. 442,954.

This invention relates to a method and machine for intucking the mouths offlexible containers of any suitable material and of any suitable formation, such containers hereinafter being designated bags for convenience, and relates particularly to a method and machinefor closing what may be called filled bags, i. e. bags into which has been introduced a suitable charge, and which are v to be intuck ed at the end which is open for the purpose of receiving the charge, preparatory to thereafter completing the closure of the bag in any suitable way.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel method and machine for intucking the mouth of a bag which will operate at high speed so that, if desired, the intucking mechanism may handle all of the output of any suitable bag filling machine.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a novel method and-machine for intucking the mouth of a bag which are available.

vided with means for alining the bag with.

the intucking elements before thelatter are set into-operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide intucking mechanism which is provided with means for expanding the mouth of the;

bag in advance of the intucking operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide intucking mechanism with means for retaining the intucked folds after the intucking mechanism has been withdrawn from the mouth of the bag. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide-intucking mechanism with novel automatic controls so that the several operations thereof will occur in proper sequence and without the intervention of an operator.

. eral figures,

'tively small bag and thereafter expand the mouth of the bag in two directions.

Another object of this invention is to provide int-ucking mechanism which may operate at high speed, which is relatively simple in construction and certain in operation, and which is also strong and rugged.

Other objects of this invention will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions some of which are shown on the accompanying drawings, '70 but it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherei in the same reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts in the sev-' Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the operating elements of the intucking mechanism of Fi 1;

ig. 3 is a perspective view from the rear 7 of certaimparts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View to illustrate the relation of the parts as the bag moves into 'alinement with the intucking elements;

Fig. 5 is a corresponding view to illustrate the osition of the lateral plates'as they enter the iag;

Fig; 6 is a corresponding view to illustrate 9 the positionof the lateral plates when the mouth of the bag has been expanded;

Fig. 7 is a corresponding view to illustrate the position of the parts when the 'intucked fold has been formed;

Fig. 8 is a corresponding View to illustrate the position of the parts after the intucking blades and lateral plates have been witl drawn from the bag mouth;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the pressure plates and bag mouth to illustrate the position of the parts after the intuckcd fold has been formed and the intucking blades and lateral plates have been withdrawn;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view to illustrate the relation of the parts as the bag is advanced from the pressure plates into cooperative relation with the feed rolls which may lead into suitable folding mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a filled bag that has been untucked, folded and stapled.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the invention wherein the intucking mechanism moves with the bag as it is advanced by a suitable carrier;

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of some of the parts of the embodiment of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation of another embodiment of the invention illustrating intucking mechanism provided with means for expanding the bag mouth intwo directions in advance of making the intuck folds;

Fig. 15 is a corresponding view illustrating the relation of parts after the expanding elements have entered the mouth of the bag;

Fig. 16 is a corresponding view illustrating the relation of parts during the intucking operation; and

Figs. 17,, 18 and 19 are diagrammatic views showing the mouth expanding elements in plan in positions corresponding to Figs. 14, 15 and 16, respectively.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 10, the intucking mechanism is associated with an endless carrier 20 of any suitable construction, here shown as composed of a plurality of parallel belts driven by pulleys 21. The endless carrier may be driven in any suitable way, either by line shafting or by the motor of the intucking mechanism or by the motor of a machine for folding and fastening the lips of the bag with which the intucking mechanism may be associated, as disclosed and claimed in my application Serial No. 442,953, filed April 9, 1930, and entitled Bag closing machine, to which cross reference is here made. The endless carrier may also have associatedtherewith mechanism for elevating each bag off of the endless carrier during the intucking operation, as disclosed in said application, if, by reason of the nature of the bag or the weight of the contained material, it is undesirable that the endless carrier slip with respect to the base of the filled bag during the operation of the intucking mechanism.

The intucking mechanism may be mounted on a frame of any suitable size, constru-ction and material. As here shown, the frame is composed of a plurality of uprights connected by suitable transverse members 26 to unite the uprights into a strong rigid framework.

In this embodiment of the invention the intucking mechanism is composed of three pairs of plates or blades, a pair of intucking blades 28 and 29, which may be tapered or otherwise suitably formed at their lower ends so as to present no portion that may punc-' ture or 1n ure the bag material. a panof lateral bladesor plates 30 and 31, for expanding the mouth of the bag in advance of the action of the intucking blades and 2!) thereon, and a pair of pressure plates 32 and 33 which receive the mouth of the filled bag between them and cooperate to retain the form of the intucked folds after the intueking blades and lateral plates have been removed from the mouth of the bag.

The intucking blades 28 and 29 are mounted on or constitute the lower extremities of a pair of downwardly extending bars or plates 34 and 35 which extend in parallel relationship and are retained in such parallel relationship by two pairs of parallel links 36, 3? and 38, 39, said links being pivoted at their outer ends to the bars 34 and 35, as shown at 40, and being pivoted at their inner ends,

as shown at 41, to a depending stationary bar 42 which is secured in any suitable way to the framework of the machine, being shown as attached to a bracket secured to a top platform 44 of the framework. The distance between the two pivots 41 on the bar 42 is equal to the distance between the two pivots on each of the intucking bars 34 and 35, so that said bars are always retained in parallel relationship.

At their upper ends, said bars 34 and 35 carry pins or rollers 45 and 46 which are designed to slide in the-slots 47 and 48 of lateral arms 49 and 50 projecting at right angles to and on either side of a vertically movable cross-head 51. Cross-head 51 is mounted for vertical rectilinear movement in the bracket 43 heretofore referred to, said bracket being shown as composed of an L shaped casting suitably formed on or secured to the top platform 44 of the frame of the machine and slotted so as to provide a way for the upwardly extending bar-like portion of the cross-head 51. Said barlike portion of the cross-head is retained within its way in the bracket 43 by a face plate 54 suitably secured to the bracket, and said face plate is shown as having attached thereto the stationary downwardly extending bar 49. heretofore referred to. Therefore, as the cross-head moves upwardly and downwardly within its way in the bracket 52, the bars 34 and 35 0f the intucking blades are caused to move up and down and also inwardly and outwardly with respect to each other, always remaining in parallel relationship, by reason of the action 'of the lateral 'arms' 49 and 50 of said cross-head and the at 56 and pivotally connected at 57 to a crank 58 carried by a shaft 59 rotatably mounted in any suitable way and shown as having a bearing in the upstanding short arm of the bracket 52. Attached to the shaft 59 1s a plate 60 to which is pivotally attached at 61 the two semicircular sections 62 and 63 of a friction band. clutch which embraces and is T designed to cooperate with the hub 64 of a pinion 65 freely rotatable on the shaft 59 and suitably secured thereon in any appropriate way as by a collar 66 pinned to said shaft.

The two halves 62 and 63 of said clutch are provided wth projections 67 and 68, respec- 67 and carries a washer 69, between which and the projection 67 is a stiff coil spring 70 which is designed to urge the projections 67, 68 toward each other so as to clam the two clutch halves 62 and 63 into bin ing frictional engagement with the hub 64 of the pinion 65. Mounted between the projections 67 and 68 is a plate-like member 71 which is designed to engage a detent and pry the clutch halves apart against the tension of the spring 7 0 in the manner hereinafter described.

Pinion'65 may be driven in any suitable way, being shown as meshing with a pinion 72 on the shaft 73 of a belt pulley 74 with which cooperates a belt 75 running from any suitable source of power, as line shafting or a suitable motor, which may be mounted on the frame of the machine.

The lateral plates 30 and 31 are deflected outwardly approximately midway of their length, as shown at and 81, and then extended upwardly in parallel relationship, as shown at 82 and 83. Lateral plates 30 and 31 are always retained in parallel relationship by parallel linkage mechanism, and are attached to a common head for movement to vgether in a vertical direction' In the form shown, the head 84 moves upwardly and downwardly on, and is guided by, the lower end'of the vertical bar 42 heretofore described,

said head being shown as made in halves and clamped around said bar 42 in any suitable way, whereby saidhead takes the form of arect-angular tube having a bore slidably fitted on the bar 42. On each lateral face of said head 84, at the upper extremity thereof, is

ened by transverse members 89. Similarly mounted in each pair of lugs 86, as by a pin 90, is a second link 91 which may be constructed similarly to the links 88. The links 1 88 and 91 at each side of the cross-head are pivotally connected, as by pins 92 and 93, to the upper portions 82 and 83 of the side plates, thedistance between the pins 92 and 93 being equal to the distancebetween the pins 87 and so that a parallel linkage mechanism is p'rovid ed. The pins 92, 93 may be carried by the plates 82, 83 in any suitable way. As shown, a plate 93 issuitably attached, as by riveting, to the inner face of each plate 82 and 83 and carries at opposite extremities thereof a pair of lugs 94 and 95 for pivotally receiving the pins 92 and 93. To' limit the extent to which the head 84 may pass downwardly along the bar 42, a stop lug 96 may project from one or both faces of the bar 42 adjacent the lower end thereof for engagement with the lower extremity of the head 84.

Head 84 is designed to descend by gravity until it engages the stop lugs 96. During the downward movement of said head the lateral plates 30 and 31 are designed to remain in contiguous parallellrelationship for the major portion of this movement, but just before the head reaches its lowermost position, the plates 30 and 31 are designed to be separated, to the end that the plates 30 and 31 in contiguous relationship may enter the mouth of a bag alined therewith, and then may be moved laterally to open the mouth of the bag to rectangular form, for a purpose to be explained. To this end, a guide bar 98 is suitably mounted on the frame of the machine at each side of the head 84, and for the major portion of its lengthextends vertically. Ad-

jacent its lower extremity, however, each guide bar 98 has an outwardly deflected por tion 99 which terminates in a depending portion 100, The upper vertical portions 98 of the two guide bars are so spaced apart that by coaction with the upper portions 82 and 83 of the lateral plates, the depending portions 30 and 31 thereof will be held in close relationship suitable for entering the mouth of the bag. When the portions 82 and 83 come opposite the deflected portions 99 of said guide bars, however, said lateral plates 30 and 31 move apart under the action of coil springs 101, suitably attached at their lower ends toone of the transverse members of the links 88 and at their upper ends to the frame of the machine, for exerting an outward pull on the plates 30 and 31. Hence the plates 30 and 31 move outwardly within the limits defined by the depending extensions 100 of said guide bars, which limits are such as to permit the plates 30 and 31 to expand the mouth of the bag into rectangular form but not sufficien'tly to endanger the material of the bag.

7 To return the head 84 to its upper position,

after ithas fallen in the manner just described, means are provided on the cross-head 51 for engaging and elevating the head 84. In the form shown, cross head 51 carries a depending resilient bar 102 which, at its lower end, is provided with a hook extremity 103 which is designed to engage beneath a suitable projection on the head 84. As illustrated, the hook 103 is designed to engage the pivot pin 87 of the upper link 88 on the inner side of the head 84. lVhen the cross-head 51 moves downwardly into its lowermost position, the hook 103 engages the pin 87 and is deflected laterally against the resiliency of the bar 102, finally snapping underenath the pin 87. Then, as the cross-head 51 is raised, the head 84 is pulled upwardly therewith and held upwardly with the cross-head 51 until the hook 103 is released from the pin 87 in a manner to be described.

The pressure plates 32 and 33 may be made of any suitable material, such as wood, and are suitably suspended from the frame of the machine, as by links 104 and 105 cooperating with the opposed ends of each plate. Said links 104 and-105 may be attached to the plates in any suitable way. As shown, a bracket 106 is suitably attached to the outer face of each of said plates and carries at-each end. thereof a lug 107 to which a link 104 or 105 is suitably pivoted at 108. At their upper ends, the links are pivoted to the frame of the machine in any suitable way, the links 104 and 105 at each end being shown as carried by a common pivot 109. The pressure plates 32 and are normally held in separate relationship so as to permit the mouth of a filled bag to be moved therebetween by the endless carrier 20. To this end, a coil spring 11.0 is suitably attached at its lower end to a projection on the bracket 106 and at its upper end to the frame of the machine. In order that the filled bag may be guided between said pressure plates and properly centered with respect thereto, the receiving ends of said plates may be provided with flared extensions, or as shown in Fig. 2, the ilates themselves may be given an outwardly curved formation 111.

After the filled bag has entered between said pressure plates 32 and 33 and after the lateral plates 30 and 31 have expanded the mouth of said bag, the pressure plates 32 and 33 are moved toward each other to move the lateral plates toward each other in synchronism with the inward movement of the intucking blades and 29, and are then locked in their inner position so to retain the lips of the bag in their intucked relation after the intucking blades and lateral plates have been withdrawn from the mouth of the bag. To this end, the links 104 and 105 are designed to be moved toward each other by a pair of pins 112 mounted on and projecting laterally inward from the face of a rectilinearly movable block 113 which is suitably attached to the lower end of a vertically reciprocating rod 114. A second rod 115 suitably attached to the block 113 and projecting through a suitable guide aperture on or in the frame of the machine may be employed to prevent rotational movement of the blo'ck 113. Rod 114 extends upwardly and is then provided with an inward projection 116, formed integrally with or suitably attached to the rod 114, said projection underlying the lateral arm on the cross-head 51. Rod 114 is normally urged upwardly by a coil spring 117 suitably attached to a collar 118 fastened on said rod and having its opposite end suitably attached to the frame of the machine.

When the cross-head 51 moves downwardly, its arm 50 engages the projection 116 on the rod 114 and depresses said rod and block 113. Thereby the pins 112 are caused to wipe along the links 104 and 105, moving them toward each other and thereby moving the pressure plates 32 and 33 toward each other. As this downward movement of the rod 114, which is against the tension of the spring 117, is synchronous with the downward movement of the cross-head 51, the pressure plates 32 and 33 are being moved inwardly synchronously with the intucking blades 28 and 29. As the pressure plates 32 and 33 are laterally alined with the lateral plates 30 and 31, which are in their relatively sep arated position, holding the mouth of the bag expanded, when said pressure plates 32 and 33 start to move inwardly, said pressure plates 32 and 33 move the lateral plates 30 and 31 inwardly in synchronism with the inward motion of the intucking blades 28 and 29, so that the pressure of the intucking blades on the expanded mouth of the bag has no tendency to tear the bag material, and

yet the mouth of the bag is held in properly expanded condition, progressively decreasing in transverse width, as the intucking operation goes on.

When the lateral plates 30 and 31 have been moved into their innermost position,

the pressure plates are locked in their then position for the purpose of holding the lips of the bag in their intucked relationship, while the intucking blades and the lateral plates are removed from the mouth of the bag. To this end, a locking plate 120 is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine at 121 and has a locking toe 122 at its lower extremity adapted to engage over the top of the block 113 and retain the latter in its lowermost position. against the tension of spring 117. The locking plate 120 is normally urged toward its locking position by a coil spring 123 attached thereto adjacent its upper extremity and also attached to the frame of the machine. Therefore, as the cross-head 51 completes its cycle of motion, elevating the head 84 in'the manner heretotofore explained, the lips of the bag areheld in their intucked position by the pressure fore described and causing the intucking blades 28 and 29 to move outwardly as here plates 30 and 31 until such time as the looking plate 120 is actuated to release the block 113, and permit the block to be raised by the spring 117. 1

As the bag moves on the endless carrier 20 into the intucking mechanism it must be centered with respect to the intucking mechanism heretofore described, and then the sequence of operations to be followed are, first, to release the head 84 to permit the lateral plates to descend and enter and then expand the mouth of the bag; second, to permit the cross-head 51 to move downwardly and operate the intucking blades and pressure plates and then withdraw the intucking blades and lateral plates, leaving the pressure plates in their inner position; and third, to release the pressure plates so that they may assume their relatively remote position in order to receive the next bag to be operated upon. This alinin of the bag with the intucking mechanism an the-effecting of the sequence of operation just enumerated is accomplished. by trains of tripping and actuating mechanism next to be described.

Pivotally mounted on the frame of the ma- 'chine in the path of the bag coming into the intucking mechanism is a gate 125 mounted in any suitable way. As shown, said gate carries a pair of blocks 126 and 127 which are mounted on a pintle 128 carried by the frame of the machine. A coil spring 129 surrounds said pintle and has its ends secured to the gate proper and the block 127, and tends to move the gate in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Mounted on the gate 125 is alatch 130 pivoted thereto at 131 and nor-, mallypulled upwardly by a ,coil spring 132 attached at its opposite ends to said'latch and a pin carried by the gate.- Latch 130 is guided by a plate 133 and has its end deflected as shown at 134.

Pivotally mounted on the frame 'of the machine for cooperation with the end of the latch 130 is a detent member 135 pivoted to the frame of the machine at 136. To move said detent plate 135 out of the path of said latch 130 a. rod 137 has at its lower end an inwardly bent end and is vertically movable, being suitablv guided in the frame of the machine.

Said rod extends upwardly to the top of the ma chine. where it is pivotally attached at 139 pin 144 underlies the detent plate 135 and prevents it dropping below that position in which it is in alinement with the latch 130, for stopping the gate in such position that the bag in contact therewith is in alinement with the elements of the intucking mechanism.

When the cross-head 51 moves downwardly the arm 49 thereof permits the lever 140 to be depressed by its spring 142, thereby pressing I v downwardly on the rod 137 and bringing the laterally deflected end of the latter under-' neath the detent plate 135. As the cross-head is moving upwardly adjacent the end of its cycle of operation, its arm 49 engages thelever' 140 and elevates the same, thereby pulling upwardly on the rod 137, whereby the deflected end of the rod 137, first deflected by and engaged under the detent plate 135, elevates the detent plate 135 and withdraws it from the path of the latch 130, finally slipping oif of the detent plate 135 to permit it tofall back onto its stop 144 for engaging the latch 130 at the next actuation of the gate 125' by a bag entering the machine.

Block 127 on the gate'125 is provided with a rearward extension 145 on which is pivoted a latch 146 normally pulled in an anti-clockwise direction by coil spring 147 suitably attached thereto and to a pin on the extension -145. The hook end of the latch 146 cooperates with the hook end 148 of an arm 149 suitably formed on or attached to a vertically extending rod 150, so that as the gate 125 is moved in a clockwise direction the latch 146, by cooperation with the arm 149, will rotate the rod 150 in a clockwise direction. The upper; end of rod 150 carries an arm 151 having a beveled inner end,-and is designed to cooperate with a thrust rod 152 slidably mountciprocation in the frame of the machine and that has its inner end bent into hook-like formation (as shown at 158. Rod 157 may also" .rotate around its own axis and carries a laterallv extending arm 159 which is extended to a point where it may engage the underface of a suitable projection on the frame of the machine to limit the extent of rotation of said rod 157 under the action of a coil spring 160 attached to said arm 159 at one end and to the frame of the machine at its opposite end.

Spring 160 tends both to rotate rod-157 and to pull it toward the left,,as viewed in Fig.2, so as to maintain contact with the lever 153. The deflected end 158 of the rod -157lies in the path of the head84 and is engaged thereby v adjacent the pin 87 which cooperates with the I it slightly so as to disengage the stop arm 159 from its projection, and in this position the hook-like extension 158 is disposed adjacent the resilient arm 102, so that if rod 157 be moved inwardly, it will deflect the resilient bar 102 and disengage the hook 103 from the pin 87. Rod 157 is actuated from the gate 125, the movement of the gate 125, through the action of its pawl 147 on the arm 149 of the rod 150, causing the arm 151 of said rod to thrust outwardly on the thrust rod 152,and thereby moving the lever 153 around its fulcrum, thrusting inwardly 'on the rod 157 and disengaging the hook 103 from the pin 87 to permit the head 84 to fall.

To disengage the stop bar 120 from the block 113, the stop bar 120 is suitably con nected, as by a link 161 to a lever 161' pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine and in turn suitably connected, as by a link or cord 162, to a trip device suitably mounted on the frame of the machine in the path of the bag as it leaves the intucking mechanism. As shown, a rotational post 163 is suitably mounted in the frame of the machine and carries an arm 164 having an upwardly extending projection 165 which will be engaged and actuated by a bag moving out of the intucking mechanism under the action of the endless carrier 20, whereby a pull will be exerted on the connection 162 to move the lever 161 and, through the link 161, withdraw the stop bar 120 so as to disengage its toe 122 from the top of the block 113, whereupon spring 117 will elevate said block and rod To initiate the operation of the cross-head 51, a lever 168 is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine at 169 and has an inner deflected end 170 which is'in the path of the head 84 as it reaches its lowermost position. Lever 168 is normally urged about its fulcrum in an anti-clockwise direction by a coil spring 171 attached thereto at its upper end and to the frame of the machine at its lower end. Pivotally attached to lever 168 is a link172 .which at its opposite endis pivotally attached at 173 to the outwardly extending and 174 of a rotatably mounted rod 175. Rod

175, at its opposite end, has an upwardly extending portion 176 which is bent at 177 i so as to engage and operate a trip block 17 8 20by hand or by any suitable automatic mechanismand under the action of the endless carrier, it moves into the intucking mechanism, the parts being now in the position shown in Fig. 2. The bag is moved by the endless carrier 20 until its mouth is between the pressure plates 32 and 33 and the bag is engaged with the gate 125. Continued movement of the bag moves the gate 125 in a clockwise direction until the curved end of the latch 134 engages and is stopped by the detent plate 135, which is in its lowermost position in contact with the stop 144, and therefore further forward movement of the bag is arrested. The bag is now in alinement with the intuckin g mechanism (see Fig. 4).

As the gate 125 moves in a clockwise direction the latch 146 on the extension 145 of the block 127 carried by said gate, by its coaction with the arm 149 on the rod 150, rotates said rod 150 in a clockwise direction, and therefore causes the arm 151 on said rod to exert a thrust on the rod 152, tilting the lever 153 about its axis 154, and causing its forward end 155 to thrust inwardly on the rod 157, whereby the bent end 158 thereof deflects the resilient bar 102 and withdraws its hooked end 103 from beneath the pin 87. Head 84 with its lateral plates 30 and 31 now move downwardly by gravity, and during the major portion of their downward movement the plates 30 and 31 are held in contiguous relationship by the guide bars 98 heretofore described. Therefore, the plates 30 and 31 enter the mouth of the bag while close together (see Fig. 5). Toward the end of the downward movement of said plates 30 and 31, however, the upper portions 82 and 83 thereof come opposite the laterally deflected portions 99 of said guide bars 98, and the plates 30 and 31 are pulled apart by their springs 101, thereby expanding the mouth of the bag to the extent permitted by the extensions 99 (see Fig. 6). The lowermost position of the head 84 is determined by the stops 96.

As the head 84 reaches its lowermost position it engages the-lever 168, moving it in a clockwise direction about its axis 169 against the tension of spring 171, and thrusting upwardly on the link 172, to rotate the rod 175 in a clockwise direction, whereby its end 177 thrusts inwardly on the lower end of the trip block 17 8, moving the upper end of said block to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, and therefore out from under the plate-like member 71. The coil spring of the clutch is then free to close the clutch halves, and the constantly rotating pinion 74 is therefore clutched to the crank shaft 59. Crank 57 through connecting rod 55 therefore moves the cross-head 51 downwardly.

As the cross-head 51 moves downwardly its lateral arms 49 and 50 thrust downwardly on the intucker bars 34 and 35 and, by reason of the parallel linkage mechanism 36, 37, 38,

projection 116 of the rod 114, causing the block 113 to likewise move downwardly and its pins 112 to wipe along the links 104 and 105 to move the'pressure plates 32 and 33 toward eachother in synchronism' with the inward movement of the intucker blades 28 and 29. Thejpressure plates 32 and 33 move the lateral plates '30 and 31 i'n wa'rdly as hereto fore described in detail, and at the instant when the intucker. blades have reached their innermost position thelateral plates 30 and 31 have also reached their innermost position,

' cross-head 51 reached its lowermost position,

the hook 103 on its resilient bar 102 snapped under the pin 87 of the head 84, and therefore the head 84 is raised simultaneously with the cross-head 51, the plates 30 and 31 being retained in their innermostposition, first by the pressure plates 32 and 33 and'then by the guide bars 98 (see Fig. 8). Head 84 is thus restored to its original position and repositioned in operative engagement with the deflected. end 158 of the trip mechanism heretofore described. As the cross-head 51 reaches its uppermost position, completing its cycle of operation, the plate-like member 71 engages the trip block 178, which had been returned to its inner position by the leaf spring 180 when the end 177 of rod 154 was withdrawn therefrom by the coil spring 171 when the head 84 was raised out of contactwith the inner end 170 of said lever 168. ,Therefore, 9 the cross-head 51 is stopped at the end of its cycle of operation, in its uppermost position, and the clutch 62. 63, being now open, the .pinion 64 rotates freely with respect to the crank shaft 59.

When the cross=head 51 moved downwardly lever 140 was moved downwardly by its spring 142 and the rod 137 was likewise moved downwardly so its deflected end was first deflected by and then engaged under the detent plate 135. As the cross-head 51 reachesits uppermost position, it engages lever 140 and pulls upwardly on the rod 137 to raise the detent plate 135 from the path of the latch 130, the deflected end of the rod 137 finally moving out from underthe edge of the plate 135 and permitting the latter to fall back against its stop 144. Before this has taken place, however, the gate 125 has moved beyond thelatch plate 135, owing)to the pressure of the bag against the gate y. reason of the action of the endless carrier thereon.

Therefore, the gate 125 moves through an an-.

gle of approximately 90, into parallel relationship with the endless carrier, permitting the filled bag to move therepast while the pressure plates 32 and 33 are retaining the intucked fold at the lips of, the bag in their proper position (see Fig. 9) but'withoutexert-ing such friction on the lips of thebag as to tend to retard the movement thereof.

As the bag leaves the intucking mechanism or moves into cooperative relationship with any suitable folding mechanism 181 associated with the mechanism heretofore described (see Fig. 10), the bag engages the upwardly extending end 165 of the rod 164 and moves the post 163 to exert a pull'on the link or cord 152, thereby releasing the stop bar 120 from the block 113 and permitting the spring 117 to elevate the rod 114 and thereby remove the pins 112 from engagement with the intermediate portions of the links 104 and 105, whereby the pressure plates 32 and 33 are moved into their separated relationship by the springs 110, restoring the pressure plates to the relationship shown in Fig. 2, wherein they are ready to re ceive a new bag. a K

As the bag passes out of engagement with the gate 125 thelatter is restored to its forward position by the coil spring 129, the latch 130 being depressed against the action of its spring 132 to enable said latch to pass under the detent plate 135. The latch 146 is scribed. the filled bag is then released to move out of the intucking mechanism with the lips of the bag retained in their in'tucked relation, with all parts restored to their original position ready for actuation when and only when the next filled bag enters the machine and engages the gate 125.

I In the embodiment shown'in Fig. 12 the intucking mechanism is'designed to move synchronously with the bag as it is advanced through the machine, as by the endless carrier 20 shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment the intucking mechanism is carried by a movable carriage 200 mounted in any suitable wayfor rectilinear movement in the frame of the machine, being shown as provided with lateral ribs 201 which may slide in ways 202 formed in the frame over the path of the endless carrier.

Attached to one end of the carriage 200, as by a ring bolt 203, is a cord or chain 204 leading over a pulley 205 and having attached thereto a weight 206 which normally holds 'the carriage in that position wherein it will be in proper alinement with a bag entering the machine on the endless carrier 20,'i. e. at the right as viewed in Fig. 12. Attached to the other end of the carriage 200, as by a ring bolt 206, is a second cordor chain 207 which is also shown as leading over a pulley 208 and thence to a. drum 209 to which one end of said cord or chain is attached as shown at 210, although any other suitable means for re' turning the carriage 200 may be used, if preferred.

Drum 209 has formed thereon or secured thereto a collar 211 with which is associated a clutch of the friction band type heretofore describedand illustrated at 67 to 71 in Fig. 2. Two clutch halves 212 pivotally connected at 213 and mounted between the collar 211 and a second collar 211 are adapted to clutch said drum a constantly rotating drive; shaft 214. Each of the clutch halves has a lug 215,;

andthese lugs are normally pressed'toward each other by a coil spring 216 mounted beblock 220 which is normally urged into the path of the plate219 by a leaf sprihg221 and which may be turned about its pivot 222 so as to free saidplate 219 when the lower end of said detent 220 is thrust toward the right. as viewed in Fig. 12, by the bent end 223 of a.rotaitable trip member 224 which hasits opposite endsecured bya link or cord 225 to a trip member 226 .rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine at 227 and having un -upstanding trip finger 228 in the path of A suitable the bag as it enters the machine. spring 1s associated with the trip device 111st described so that the parts are normally held.

in the position shown. Hence, when a bag engages-the trip 'finger228, the latter is swung-about its"axis 227 in an anti-clockwise,

direction,- and thereby exerts a pull on the link or cord 225 and swings thebent end 223 of the trip device 224 in a clockwise direcjtioin'thrusting toward the righton the lowercnd of detent member 220 and withdrawing its upper end from under -the plate 219. Thereupon', under the action of the coil spring 216, the two clutchhalves 212 grip the friction surface on the constantly rotating drive shaft 214, and the drum makes one complete revolution, until the plate 219 againengages the upper end of the detent member 220' which, in the meantime, has been restored to the position shown in-Fig. 12'.

During the rotation of the drum 209 by the clutch 212, the drum makes a complete-revolution in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12, winding up the cord or chain 207 thereon and thereby pulling the carriage 200 to the left as viewed in Fig. 12.

At the end of one complete revolution, when i the clutch halves 212 are opened by the reengagement of the plate 219 with the detent member 220, the drum 209 is free to rotate on its shaft 214 and the carriage 200 will be returned to its original position by the weight K 1 206,01 other suitable returning mechanism provided. I, Shaft 214 may be..rotated in any suitable way, being shown as driven by a bevel gear 230 thereon, which gear is in mesh with a bevel gear 231 on shaft 232, which is driven through bevel gears 233 from anysuitable shaft 234 in the drive of the machine.

. Mounted on the carriage 200 is an upstanding bracket 235 which carries a stub shaft 236 .to which is secured a pinion 237 that meshes with a rack 238 suitably supported 011 the machine in parallelism with the path of movement of the carriage 200. Surrounding the shaft 236 is a coil spring239 which constitutes a wrap-down clutch, the spring tending toassumean inner diameter some what less than the outer diameter of the shaft, so that the spring will grip and rotate with the shaft when the pinion 237 and shaft 236 move clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 12, but the pinion'and shaft may rotate freely with respect to the spring 239 when said pinion and shaft move anti-clockwise, as viewed in said figure. The end of spring 239 is secured to a collar 240 which may rotate freely on the shaft 236 and which is driven by the spring during-the movement of the pmion 237 toward the left along the rack 238. "To assure that the disk 240 will not rotate with the shaft 236 in a elockwisedirection a pawl 241 may be suitably mounted for cooperation with a shoulder 242 formed on the periphery of said disk 240, said pawl being shown as mounted on a bracket 243 and urged toward said disk by a spring 244.

1 Eccentrically pivoted ,on the collar 240 at 245 is a connecting rod 246 which at its opposite end is pivoted at 247 to a vertically movable bar 248 that is slidable-in a suitable guide'249 provided on the carriage 200. Below the'carriage 200 said bar 248 extends through a head 250 which is slidable thereon and between which and the'lower .face of the guide 249 is disposed a coil spring 251 which is under compression when the head 250 is in its'u-ppermost position. Bar 248 also carries at its lower end four arms 252, 253, 254 and g 255 which are disposed at right angles with respect to each other. Pivotally mounted on the arms 252 and 253 at 256 are intucker blades 257 and 258, which are also pivotally connected at their upper ends, at 259, to links 260 that in turn are pivoted at 261 to the head 250. If preferred, however, the intucker blades may be operated by parallel motion linkage of the type shown in the embodlment of Figs. 1 to 3.

Pivotally mounted on the arms 254 and 255 at 262 are lateral members 263 and 264 for expanding the mouth of the bag, here shown as formed of wire although if preferred solid plates of the type illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 may be used. Each of the lateral members 263 and 264 has attached thereto or formed thereon an arm 265 which is bifurcated at its upper end and carries a cam follower 266. The two arms 265 are urged toward each other by a coll spring 267 which is secured at its opposite ends to pins268 projecting laterally from the upper ends of the arms 265. Mountedon the head 250 at opposite sides thereof and in position for cooperation with the cam followers 266 are cams 269, each of which has an elevation 270 at its upper end and an elevation 271 at its lower end, these elevations being sepa rated by depressions 272 into which the cam followers may be drawn by the spring 267.

The bar 248 with its arms 252,253, 254 and 255 is designed to move downwardly with the head 250 moving therewith until the parts as a whole have been lowered into cooperative relationship with the bag, and thereafter said bar and arms are designed to move downwardly with respect to said head in orderto operate the intucker blades 257 and 258 and the lateral members 263 and 264. To arrest the head 250 in it downward movement with the bar 248, a suitable stop rod 273 projects upwardly from said head and extends through an aperture in the carriage 200.

- Above said carriage said rod is provided with a projection 274 which may engage with any suitable element, as the body of the carriage, for stopping the downward movement of said rod and therefore of said head 250. A coil spring 27 5, attached at one end to the upper end of the stop rod 273 and at its opposite ends to the body of the carriage, may be provided for normally urging said rod toward its lowermost position.

In this embodiment of the invention the pressure plates are made relatively stationary and are brought into operation by the move ment of the bag onthe endless carrier. As shown pressure plates 276 and 277 are mounted in any suitable way, as by brackets 278, on the frame of the machine, and extend lengthwise of the endless carrier 20. The entrance ends of said plates are preferably flared as shown at 279 to guide the bag between the same, and the bracket elements 278 may be given some resiliency, so that the pressure,

plates 276 and 27 7 may yield to some extent in the event of need. When the intucking mechanism is associated with folding mechanism, the pressure plates preferably extend into close adjacency to the first rolls 181 of the folding mechanism as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 12.

In the operation of this embodiment, the filled bag is placed by hand or by suitable mechanism on the endless carrier 20, and is moved by said carrier into the intucking mechanism, suitable guides being provided if desired to'properly position and guide the bag on the carrier as it moves into alinement with said intucking mechanism.

As the bag approaches alinement with the lateral members 263 and 264, it engages the trip finger 228 and rotates the trip member 227 around its axis, whereby the arm 226 of the latter exerts a pull on the cord or link 225, rotating the member 224 in a clockwise direction and causing its end 223 to thrust toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 12, against the lower end of the detent block 220. The latter is moved around its axis 222 in an anticlockwise direction, releasing the plate 219,

, whereupon the spring 216 closes the clutch 212 and the drum 209 is caused to rotate with the constantly rotating drive shaft 214. Rotation of the drum 209 causes the cord or chain 207 to be wound upon said drum, whereby the carriage 200 is moved toward the left as viewed in Fig. 12. As the bracket 235 also moves toward the left with the carriage, the

pinion 237 is caused to rotate by its engagement with the rack 238, whereby the shaft 236 is driven in an anti-clockwise direction. This causes the wrap-down clutch 239 to bind on said shaft, and the disk 240 is driven in a like direction. Therefore the connecting rod 246 moves the rectilinearly movable bar 248 downwardly as the carriage 200 moves to the left, and as the carriage is being moved in synchronism with the endless carrier 20 the intucking mechanism and the bag are being traversed toward the left at the same rate, withthe bag always in alinement with the axis of the intucking mechanism.

As the bar 248 descends, carrying the arms 252, 253, 254 and 255 therewith, the head 250 moves downwardly with said bar under the action of the coil spring 251, and the parts retain the relationship illustrated in Fig. 12. lVhen the parts have descended so far that the lateral plates 263 and 264, in their inward position as shown, have entered the mouth of the bag, further downward movement of the head 250 is arrested by the engagement of the stop 274 with the carriage 200, and the further downward movement of the bar 248 causes the arms 252, 253, 254 and 255 to move with respect to said head 250. This is The lateral members 263, 264 are in their innermost position when they enter the bag by reason of the engagement of the elevations 270 with the cam followers 266, but as the arms 254 and 255 move downwardly with respect to the head 250, the cam followers 266 enter the depressions 272, under the action of the coil spring 267, and the lateral plates 263 and 264 are moved apart to expand the mouth of the bag. The downward movement of the arms 252 and 253 with respect to the head 250 causes the links 260 to swing downwardly about their pivot 261, and owing to their angular relationship to the intucking blades 257, 258 the latter are caused to move inwardly. When the intucking blades 257 and 258 have engaged the ends of the expanded bag mouth and started the intucking operation, the cam followers 266 are riding up the projections 271 and therefore effecting an inward movement of the lateral members 263 and 264 in synchronism with the forming of the intucked fold, so that while the mouth of the bag is kept properly expanded, it is permitted to collapse transversely in proportion to the extent to which its mouth is drawn inwardly lengthwise of the endless carrier by the intucking blades.

As the bar 248 reaches the end of its downward stroke, the bag, with the intucked fold in its mouth and the intucking blades 257 and 258 and the lateral members 263 and 264 in their innermost position, enters between the pressure plates 276 and 277. The continued rotation of the disk 240 now causes the bar 248 to be raised, first moving the arms 252, 253,254 and 255 with respect to the head 250, and during this upward movement of the bar relatively to the head 250, the intucker blades are swung outwardly, as the arms 252 and 253 approach the head 250,

' but the lateral members 263 and 264 cannot eral members are thereby withdrawn from the mouth of the bag the bag mouth is retained in its intucked form the pressure plates 27 6 and 277 until the bag is delivered to the folding mechanism or whatever other mechanism is thereafter to operate on the intucked bag.

As the disk 240 completes its revolution, the disk 211 completes its revolution, and the plate 219 engages the detent block 229 to open the halves of the clutch 212, thereby discontinuing rotation of the drum 209 with the shaft 214. Drum 209 can now rotate freely with respect to the shaft 214, and the carriage 200 is moved toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 12, by the weight 206 or other suitable mechanism for performing this function, the pinion 237 and shaft 236 being rotated in a clockwise direction by reason of the engagement of the pinion 237 with the rack 238 but during this return of the carriage the disk 240 and the parts actuated thereby are not rotated because the spring 239 will not rotate shaft 236 in a clockwise direction while the disk 240 is positively retained in proper position by the pawl 241.

Therefore the bag is intucked without arresting or retarding its movement through the machine, since the intucking mechanism moves synchronously with the carrier 20 throughout the period of the intucking opera tion, and after the intucking operation the intucking mechanism returns automatically and rapidly to its initial position where it is again ready for cooperation with the next bag when it actuates the trip finger 228.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 14 to 19 inclusive, the intucking mechanism is also designed to travel with the bag as just described, and the operating elements of the intucking blades and lateral members may be and are indicated as of sub stantially the same construction as in the structure of Figs. 12 and 13.

When, for one reason or another, there may be danger that the bag is not properly alined with the lateral members of the intucking mechanism at the instant when said members are lowered toward the bag mouth to expand the same, a condition which may exist particularly with small bags, and there is therefore a danger that the lateral members may engage and press down the bag top instead of properly entering the same, the lateral members may be composed of relatively movable parts which descend in contiguous relationship, so that they enter the bag mouth approximately in the form of an inverted cone or pyramid. Thereby danger of improper entry of these members into the bag mouth is substantially eliminated, and after the lateral members have entered the mouth of the bag, they may be expanded lengthwise of the bag travel so as to function like the lateral members ofthe other embodiments described.- Thereafter the operation may be the same as that heretofore described.

Referring in detail to Figs. 14 to 19, the bar 248 carries at each end of its arms and 255 a. transverse bar 280 which extends lengthwise of the travel of the bag. Pivoted on said bar 280, adjacent its opposite ends as shown at 281 and 282, are two members 233 and 284 which together perform the functions of one of the lateral members of either of the embodiments heretofore described. Said members 283 and 284 are urged toward each other, as shown in Flg. 14, by a coil spring 285 suitably connected to said members at its opposite ends, but after they have entered the bag mouth, said members are moved apart so as to be spaced lengthwise of the bag mouth approximately the full di- 288 and 289 after the members 283 and 284 have entered the bag mouth and cause said members to rotate around their pivots in a direction to separate the, lower ends of said members. As shown, the stop elements 290 and 291 are constituted by nuts carriedon depending rods 292 and 293 supported in any suitable way from the carriage 200. If the members 283 and 284 are to descend to a further extent-after engagement with the stop lugs 299 and 291 the rods 292 and 293 are so mounted that they may descend with the members 283, 284 after the latter have been swung around their pivots by the nuts 290 and 291. As shown, the rods 292 and 293 are suspended from rods 294 and 295 with interposed compression springs 296, 297 which are suiliciently stiflto resist downward movement of the rods 292 and 293 until after the stops 290 and 291 have performed their functions, but to thereafter yield to permit the rods 292 and 293 to descend with the members 283 and 284.

To limit the extent to which the members 283 and 284 may be separated, stops 298 and 299 are mounted in the path of the projections 286 and 287. being shown as carried by a. depending bracket 300 on'the bar 248. To lock themembers 283 and 284 in their separated relationship, with their extensions 286 and 287 in contact with the stops 298 and 299. a pawl 301 is suitably pivoted on the bracket 300 and normally urged into posi tion to engage the extensions 286 and 287 by a spring. It is to be understood that this same mechanism is duplicated at each side of the intucking device. so that each lateral member is formed of two relatively i'novahle members which are caused to be separated as just described.

As the bar 248 descends in accordance with the operation explained in detail in conjiinction with the embodiment of Figs. 12 and 13. the four component elements of the two lateral members have their ends converging to ing considerable leeway in the accuracy with which the bag mouth. need be alined with the intucking members. Before the members 252, 253, 254 and 255 move relatively to the head 250 to initiate the operations heretofore described in conjunction with the embodiments of Figs. 12 and 13, the projections 288 and 289 engage the stops 290 and 291 swinging the members 283 and 284 from the position shown in Fig. 14 to the position shown in Fig. 15, until their extensions 286 and 287 engage the stops 298 and 299, in which position they are retained by the pawl 301 snapping over said extensions 286 and 287. The lateral members are now expanded lengthwise of the bag as indicated in Fig. 18.

Thereafter the descent of the arms 252, 253, 254 and 255 with respect to the. head 250 causes the parts to go through the same sequence of operation as described in connection with the embodiments of Figs. 12 and 13. If desired, however, the parts may be timed so that the four members 283, 284 move transv vrsely at the same time that they are moving lengthwise of the bag, so that the bag mouth is expanded simultaneously in both drections, and the intu'cker blades may also be timed to be moving inwardly while the members 283 and 284 are moving lengthwise of the bag mouth. hen the parts are elevated to their original position a trip member (not shown) ,carried by any suitable part of the mechanism, engages the pawls 298 and releases the extensions 286 and 287. thereby permitting the spring 285 to draw the members 283 and 284 inwardly, thus restoring said members 283 and 284 to their initial position. The parts are new again in the relationship shown in Fig. 14, ready for actuation when the next bag moves into alinement therewith.

It will, therefore, be perceived that a novel method and machine forntucking the mouth of a-bag have been provided which will operate at high speed so that one intucking device may be capable of handling all of the output of any suitable bag-filling machine. Moreover, a novel method and machine have been provided whereby the progress of the bag through the machine is not retarded during the intucking operation, since the intucking mechanism may move with the bag throughout its period of cooperation therewith. Also, a method and machine have been provided which are a ailable for bags of a large variety of sizes. formations and materials, and whether the bag material stilt or flexible, or thick or thin.

It will also be perceived that a machine has been provided which assures that the bag is properly alined with the intucking elements before the latter arcset into operation. that the bag mouth is properly expanded for cooperation with the intucking blades, and that the intucked folds are properly retained after the intucking elements have been withdrawn from the bag. The machine is entirely automatic, the several operations occurring in proper sequence and without the intervention of an operator. The bags to be closed, by suitably selecting the sizes of the parts, may be of almost any s ze, from small bags for holding a pound, or a fraction thereof, of any suitable substance up to very large bags such as 100 pound bags of cement, flour, etc. The machine is also available for handling bags of a wide variety of sizes, formations, and materials without danger of tearing the bag material. Additionally, means have been provided whereby, if preferred, the elements that enter the bag mouth may be inserted in close relationship, as is particularly advantageous if the bags are small. The machine is also relatively simple in construction, strong and rugged, and efficient and certain in operation.

The intucking mechanism of this invention can be associated with any suitablc mechw nism for completing the closure of the bag. In my co-pending application Serial No. 442.953, I have disclosed and claimed the intucking mechanism of this appl cation in conjunction with mechanism for folding the lips of the bag and securing the folds together as by staples, but while I have there disclosed the intucking mechanism of the present invention in conjunction with one type of fold ng mechanism and one type of fastening mechanism, it is to be expressly understood that the present invention may be used with any suitable means for producing any appropriate character of fold in the bag lips and with any suitable mechanism for pasting, stitching or otherwise secur'ng the bag lips or folds together.

While the embodiments of the invention illustrated' on the drawings have been described with considerable particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, as the same is capable of receiving a variety of other expressions, some of which will now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, while changes may be made in the, details of construction, arrangement and proportion of parts, and some of the features used without other features, without depart ng from the spirit of this invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the claims hereto appended for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of elements adapted to enter the mouth of the bag, means for operating said elements to expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, and means for operating said blades to form intuck folds in the bag mouth while said mouth-expanding elements remain in cooperative relationship with the mouth of the bag.

2. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of elements adapted to enter the mouth of the bag, means for moving said elements away from each other after entry into the mouth of the bag to expand the same, exterior intucker blades, and means tripped by the movement of said elements for moving said blades toward each other to form intuck folds in the bag mouth.

3. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of elements adapted to enter the mouth of the bag, means for operating said elements in the bag mouth to shape the same into rectangular form, intucker blades, and means for operating said blades to form intuck folds in the bag month while said elements retain said mouth in rectangular form.

4. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of elements adapted to enter the bag mouth, means for moving said elements lengthwise of the-bag mouth, intucker blades, and means for moving said blades lengthwise of the bag mouth cooperatively with said elements to form intuck folds in the bag mouth.

5. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of elements adapted to enter the mouth of the bag, means for moving said elements both lengthwise and widthwise of the bag mouth to expand the same, intucker blades, and means for operating said blades to form intuck folds in the bag mouth.

6. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of elements adapted to enter the mouth of the bag, means for operating said elements to expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for operating said blades to form intuck folds in the bag mouth, and means for contracting the mouth of the bag during the formation of the intuck folds 7. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of elements adapted to enter the mouth of the bag, means for moving said elements away from each other after entry into the bag mouth to expand the same,

intucker blades, means for moving said blades to form intuck folds in the bag mouth, and means for moving said elements toward each other during the formation of the intuck folds.

the mouth of the bag, means for moving said elements lengthwise of the bag mouth, in-

I tucker blades, means for operating said blades cooperatively with said elements to form intuck folds, and means for contracting the mouth of the bag during the formation of the intuck folds.

10. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of elements adapted to enter the mouth of the bag, means for moving said elements both lengthwise and widt'hwise of the bag mouth to expand the same, intucker blades, means for moving said blades length wise of the bag mouth, and means for contraeting said elements widthwise of the mouth of the bag during the operation. of said intucker blades.

11. In a machine for intucking bags, the

combination of mouth expanding elements,

means whereby said elements are caused to enter the bag mouth in contracted relationship, means for operating said elements to expand the bag mouth, and means cooperating with said elements for forming intuck folds in the bag mouth.

12. In a machine for intucking bags, the combinationof mouth expanding elements, means for moving said elements into the mouth of the bag in contracted relationship, means for operating said elements .to shape 'the bag mouth into rectangular form, and

means cooperating with said'elements for forming intuck folds in the bag mouth.

13. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means for causing said elements to enter the bag mouth in contracted relationship, means for moving said elements to expand the bag mouth, intucker blades, and means for operating said intucker blades and elements insynchronism to form intuck folds in the bag mouth.

tucker blades, and means for operating said intucker blades and elements simultaneouslyto form intuck folds in the bag mouth. 15. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means whereby said elements are caused to enter the bag mouth in contracted relationship, means for thereafter operating said elements to expand the bag mouth, means for forming intuck folds in the bag mouth, and means for simultaneously contracting the bag mouth. v

16. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means for causing said elements to enter the bag mouth in contracted relationship, intucker blades, means for operating said intucker blades and elements to form intuck folds in the bag mouth, and means for con tracting the bag mouth as said intuck folds are formed.

17. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means for moving the bag and elements in synchronism, means for causing said elements to enter the bag mouth in contracted relationship and thereafter expand the bag mouth, intucker blades, and means for operating said intucker blades to form intuck folds in the bag month while said elements remain therein.

18. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means for moving said bag, means whereby said elements enter the bag mouth in contracted relationship and thereafter expand the bag mouth, intucker blades, means for moving said blades in synchronism with said bag, and means for operating said blades and elements simultaneously to form intuck folds in the bag mouth. v

19. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of a carrier for the bag, mouth expanding elements normally held in contracted relationship, means for moving said 7 elements in synchronism with said carrier, means for causlng sald elements to enter the bag mouth and thereafter expand the same,

'intucker blades moving with said elements,

and means for operating said bladesto form intuck folds in the bag mouth.

20. In a machine for intucking bags, the

combination of mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements contracted, means for causing said elements to enter the bag'mouth and expand the same, intucker blades, and means for operating said intucker blades to form intuck folds and simultaneously contract said first named elements.

21. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of a carrier for the bag, mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements contracted, means tri ped by the entry of a bag into the machine or causing said elementsto enter the bag mouth and expandthe same, int'ucker blades, and means for operating said intucker blades while said elements remain in'cooperative relationship with the bag mouth.

22. In a machine for intucking bags, the

combination of a carrier for the bag, mouth expanding elements, means normally retaining said elements contracted, normally inoperative means forrmoving said elements synchronously with said carrier, means 1 tripped by the entry of the bag into the machine for rendering said last named means operative and for causing saidelements to enter and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, and means for operating said intucker blades and elements in synchronism.

23. In a machine for intucking bags, the

combination of a carrier for the bag, mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements contracted, means tripped by the entry of a bag into the machine for causing said elements to enter the bag mouth and expand the same, intucker blades, means for operating said intucker blades, and means for contracting said elements simultaneously with the operation of said blades. a

24. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of a carrier for the bag, mouth expanding elements, means normally retaining said elements contracted, intucker blades, normally inoperative means for moving said elements and blades synchronously with the carrier, means tripped by the entry of the bag into the machine by rendering said last named means operative and for causing said elements to enter and expand the mouth of the bag, and means for Operating said intucker blades while said elements remain in cooperative relationship with said bag mouth.

25. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements contracted, means for causing said elements to enter and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for operating said intucker blades, and pressure plates for contracting the mouth of the bag whilethe intucker blades are operating.

26. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements contracted, means for causing said elements to enter and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for operating said intucker blades, pressure plates for contracting the mouth of the bag, and means for operating'said pressure plates synchronously with said intucker blades.

27. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements contracted, a carrier for moving the bag into alinement with said elements, means for causing said elements to enter and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means tripped by the movement of said elements for operating said intucker blades to form intuck folds, and means actuated by a bag on said carrier for initiating the operation of the machine.

, 28. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means normally holdinggsaid elements contracted, a carrier for -moving the bag into alinement with said elements, means for causing said elements to enter and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for operating said intucker blades and elements to form intuck folds, means fonmoving said elements and blades synchronously with said carrier, and means actuated by a bag on said carrier for initiating the operation of the machine.

29. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements,

means normally holding said elements contracted, a carrier for moving the bag into alinement with said elements, means for causing said elements to enter and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for operating said intucker blades and elements to form intuck folds, means for moving said elements and blades synchronously with said carrier, and pressure plates for retaining said folds.

30. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements contracted, means for causing said elementsto enter the mouth of the bag, means for moving said elements apart and then toward each other, intucker blades, and means for operating said blades in synchronism with said elements to form intuck folds.

31. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements contracted, means for causing said elements to enter the mouth of the bag, means for moving said elements apart and then toward each other, intucker blades, means for moving said intucker blades toward each other, and a common operating means for said intucker blades and elements whereby said blades and elements approach each other simultaneously. 32. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements contracted, a carrier for moving the bag into alinem'ent with said elements, intucker blades, means for moving said elements and blades synchronously with said carrier, said means also operating said elements and blades to form intuck folds, and means actuated by a bag on said carrier for initiating the operation of said lastnamed means.

33. In a machine for intucking bags, a carrier for moving a bag into the machine, mouth expanding elements, means normally retainingsaid elements above the path of travel of said bag, means actuated by the incoming bag for causing said elements to descend and expand the mouth of the bag, in-' tucker blades, and means for operating said intucker blades to form intuck folds While said elements remain in the bag mouth.

34. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of a carrier for the bag, means for arresting the movement of the bag on said carrier, mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements above the position occupied by the bag when arrested, means actuated by the bag arresting means for causing said elements to descend and expandthe mouth of the bag, intucker blades,

and means for operating said intucker blades to form intuck folds.

35. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of a carrier for the bag, a gate for arresting the movement of the bag, mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements above the position occupied by the bag when arrested by said gate, means actuated by the engagement of the bag with said gate for causing said elements to descend and expand the mouth of the bag..intucker blades, and means for operating said intucker blades to form intuek folds.

36. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of a carrier for the bag, a gate for arresting the movement of the bag, mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements above the position occupied by the bag when arrested by said gate, means actuated by the engagement of the bag with said gate for causing said elements to descend and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for operating said intucker blades to form intuck folds, and means for releasing the .gate after the formation of the intuck folds.

37. In a machine for intucking bags, the combination of a carrier for the bag, a gate for arresting the movement of the bag, mouth expanding elements, means normally holding said elements above the positionoccupied by the bag when arrested by said gate, means actuated by the engagement of the bag with said gate for causing said elements to enter and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for'operating saidintucker blades to form intuck folds, and means actuated by said last named means for releasing said gate.

ly during the operation of said intucker blades, and means for removlng said elements and blades from the mouth of the bag.

39. In a machine for intucking bags, a carrier for moving a bag into the machine, mouth expanding elements, means for normally holding said elements above the path of the movement of said bag, means operated by the incoming bag for causing said elements to descend and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for operating said intucker blades to form intuck folds, pressure plates, means for moving said plates inwardly during the operation of said intucker blades, means for removing said elements and intucker blades from the mouth of the bag,

in their innermost position after said elements and blades have been removed from the bag mouth.

40. In a machine for int-ucking bags, a carrier for moving a bag into the machine, mouth expanding elements, means for normally holding said elements above the path of the movement of said bag, means operated by the incoming bag for causing said elements to descend and expand the mouth of the bag, intuc-ker blades, means for operating said intueker blades to form intuck folds, pressure plates, means for moving said plates inwardly during the operation of said intucker blades, means for removing said elements and blades from the mouth of the bag, means for retaining said pressure plates in their innermost position after said elements and blades have been removed from the bag mouth, and means,

, sure plates to initial position.

41. In a machine for intucking bags, a carrier for moving the bag, mouth expanding elements, means for normally holding said elements above the path of movement of the bag, means actuated by the incoming bag for causing said elements to descend and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for operating the same, and means for moving said elements and blades with the traveling bag until the intucking operation is completed and then removing said elements and blades from the mouth of the bag.

42. In a machine for intucking bags, a carrier for moving the bag, mouth expanding elements, means for normally holding said elements above the path of movement of the bag, means actuated by the incomingbag for causing said elements to descend and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for operating the same, means for moving said elements and blades With the traveling bag until the intucking operation is completed and then removing said elements and blades from the mouth of the bag, and means for restoring said elements and blades to original position.

43. In a machine for intuoking bags, a carrier for moving the bag, mouth expanding elements, means for normally holding said elements above the path of the bag, means actuated by the incoming bag for causing said elements to descend and expand the mouth of the bag, intucker blades, means for operating the same, means for moving said elements and blades with the traveling bag until the intucking operation is completed and then removing said elements and blades from the mouth of the bag, and pressure plates for retaining the intuck fold after said elements and blades have been removed from the mouth of the bag,

44. In a'machine for intuckingbags, the combination of a carrier for moving a bag 

